Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-09
SCHWATKA A DUDE.
The Famous Arctic Explorer Knocked
Ont by Snow Storm.

\
A week or two ago Lieutenant FREQ
Sehwatka, U. S. A., entered Montana will
great flourish OF trumpets. He was te
exploit the hitherto unexplored noun taint
and fastncsses OF the Yellowstone Nationa
Park in midwinter as an army officer, and
do it up in a literary way for the New Yol K
| World as q common, everyday civilian.
The first mountain he attempted to climb
knocked him out, and he returned to the
more agreeable quarters of Uncle Rufus
Hatch's hotel, where he remained long
enough to recuperate, and returned east.
Others OF the party had more grit. The
following. from the Livingstone Enterprise
OF the 5th, is explanatory:
+. j. Haynes, the photographer who was
engaged by the Sehyatka expedition to
furnish series Of negatives of mid-winter
scenery in the park, has returned and gone
east. st Norris Geyser basin he became
convinced that he would he able to accom-
plish but little in company with Mr..
Schwatka and his dudes, and selecting
three experienced mountaineers he cut
loose from the main party and proceeded
to thoroughly do the park and OBJ
tain negatives of the most important OBJ
jects and points of interest therein. Pro-
ceeding to the Upper Geyser basin, several
days were there spent in exploration, and
negatives were secured OF all the great gey
sers during eruptions, besides OF many
ST that ragitojfh which only abound ri niu-
winter. Alter hard trip the party reached
the Falls. from the Upper basin. he river
is frozen above the falls and the ice projects
several feet beyond the precpice, hiding the
great cataract from view to an obser> er
standing at the landing at the head OF the
falls. From Point Lookout the usually
fine view of the falls was had, but the ven
turssomeness OF Mr.. Haynes led him to de-
scend the gigantic and almost perpendlcu-
lar walls OF the Grand Canyon to the river
below. where the spray from the falls by
freezing had formed beautiful rainbow
arch over the boiling, turbulent river. This
arch, though slippery as bar OF wet soap,
proved strong enough to bear the welgft
OF Mr.. Haynes and, daringly perched upon
it's centre in mid-river, he obtained the
most faithful view ever taken OF the falls.
The icy arch was next photographed. as
were many other grand and magnificent
views OF the great old canyon whose tower.
ing walls are now sheathed with ice and
snow.
Mr.. Haynes says thousands Of little hot
springs are now to be seen steaming up IN
the cold atmosphere from the bottom OF
the canyon, presenting a fine sight, and
which in the summer time are hardly notice
able. Thus, by Mr.. Haynes daring cour-
age and enterprise. hundred or more
scenes of the parks mid-winter grandeur,
in the form OF stereoscoptic views, will soon
find their way into the homes OF the many
who will purchase them. The little party
OF adventurers returned via the trail over
Mount Washburn, leaving their tent and
all surplus baggage at the Falls hotel.
They expected to reach Yancey 's-twenty
miles-in one days travel, aud set out
early in the morning with but two biscuits
each. About 2 D. IN. they proudly scaled
the summit of Mount Washburn and were
making the ascent when a binding blizzard
set in, compelling them to go into camp,
which they did by scooping out d hole IN
the snow about four feet square with their
snow shoes, in the middle OF which fire
was kindled with difficulty, and all gath
cred around it. The snow beat in upon
them fiercely for a time, but a stiff fire was
kent up, which soon melted the snow
around it until gobe-shaped space was
formed which afforded fair shelter in the
absence of tent, though they suffered con.
siderably from cold. Here the balance OF
the day and the night was spent waiting for
the storm to subside, without food and
without sleep-the latter being prohibited.
When the morning broke the storm had
ceased but dense fog prevailed: In this
but after travelling all day and max
ing about twenty miles, night again
overlook them in the mountains
and they again prepared camp as
on the night before. The weather was in
tensely cold in this high altitude. and the
only means OF procuring wood with which
to keep up fire was by breaking limbs
from the surrounding trees, and this was
attended with much difficulty as the mer
had row become very weak from hunger
and thirst. They bore up bravely, how
ever, and managed to keep from freezing
until the dawn OF the third day, when the
Jog had raised and by taking bearings iron
the top of ridge near they discovered
themselves to be within short distance
OF where they had camped the night pre-
vious. All knew the country wellin cleal
atmosphere, and they at once saw TIM
direction they should take. With renewed
courage they again SET out for Mr.. Yancey
whose place they fortunately reached a
about p. m. Here every kindness ant
.tention was extended them. and the,
were soon restored from their greatly fam
ished condition. During this trip snow
slides were frequently heard during tn
day teari. 6 down the mountain side witt
IL uedleuins Toar, anu carrying every WILL
before them, and the thoughts OF the liza
biity OF being thus swept into eternity b,
, one Of them were not at all pleasant t.
contemplate. The party had previousl
. very narrowly escaped being buried in
snowslide when passing through Bridge
canyon, where one came down but fe'
, feet ahead OF them with terrific force an
! was OF such magnitude as to dam the rive
for several hours. 1t even passed SO nea
them that the point on which they wer
standing was loosened and moved dow
ward several feet and was only checked b
ome heavy boulders from carrying theI
with it down a steep incline several huI
dred feet. Thus, viewing Wonderland i
mid-winter was perilous undertaking
, and the men who SO successfully accom-
a plished it could not now be induced io
. money to retrace their steps.